:00:43. > :00:48.It would make it more special to do it here. I think if I'd already done
:00:49. > :00:49.it coming into the World Championships, it wouldn't have as
:00:50. > :01:32.special. Good evening. Yes, he could be a
:01:33. > :01:36.record-breaker here at the Crucible neather in Sheffield. Neil Robertson
:01:37. > :01:39.looking to make 100 century breaks in a season. It would be a
:01:40. > :01:44.remarkable achievement. First, the Australian has a very tough last 16
:01:45. > :01:50.match on his hands with Northern Ireland's Mark Allen.
:01:51. > :01:59.I was born 22nd February, 1986 in Belfast.
:02:00. > :02:05.My nickname is the Pistol. I won the world amateur
:02:06. > :02:20.Championships in 2004. I turned professional in 2005. I
:02:21. > :02:27.reached my first semi-final in 2007. Pf
:02:28. > :02:35.World Championship semi-final. I reached the final in 2011. I won
:02:36. > :02:45.my first ranking title in 2012. 2013, I won the world open again.
:02:46. > :02:50.The last time these two met was at the Masters in January. Robertson
:02:51. > :02:54.edged the first round match by 6-5. Mark Allen very much out for revenge
:02:55. > :02:57.here at the Crucible Theatre and the World Championships. There was no
:02:58. > :03:02.separating them after their first session, four apiece and they shared
:03:03. > :03:06.the first of the two frames. We pick it up with Robertson at the 11th,
:03:07. > :03:11.trailing by three points. He can call to the aid of the
:03:12. > :03:34.monitor. Waiting to see if they are happy
:03:35. > :04:13.with the position of the balls. That's where they were. Pretty good.
:04:14. > :04:16.That's the problem. He's got to get more swerve on it if he's going to
:04:17. > :04:24.hit it direct. If he's coming off the cushion, he doesn't need as
:04:25. > :04:27.much. Mane while, Mark's content to sit there and let Neil try to get
:04:28. > :04:48.himself out of this problem. He could stand there for another
:04:49. > :04:50.fortnight and he couldn't pull that shot off. Well, make it longer than
:04:51. > :05:08.that. Make it a couple of years. He's got that wry smile. He can't
:05:09. > :05:11.believe what he's just seen there. At least Mark knows this is a tough
:05:12. > :05:30.shot that he's faced with. Right up against the side panel
:05:31. > :05:31.there. What a shot this would be. Terrific pot under the
:05:32. > :05:44.circumstances. What sort of angle has he got on
:05:45. > :05:50.this blue? Can he get anywhere near the pink? If he's straight, he can
:05:51. > :06:00.screw back off the cushion. That's what he's playing with reverse side.
:06:01. > :06:05.Well, look at this sport a shot he's faced with. If he pots the pink,
:06:06. > :06:06.screws down, this will be a clearance like I've never seen
:06:07. > :06:25.before. APPLAUSE
:06:26. > :06:29.The rest of the shots have been well, literally out of this world,
:06:30. > :06:38.some of the pots he's pulled off here.
:06:39. > :06:43.Eventually he fluked the green but some of the colours he knocked in
:06:44. > :06:49.there was quite unbelievable and he's back in the lead, 6-5 to the
:06:50. > :06:55.world number one. Allen won the next frame thanks to a
:06:56. > :07:05.break of 77, into frame 13, Robertson looking to a break of 19.
:07:06. > :07:10.Flick they've red to bring it round. He could play ball. He's missed the
:07:11. > :07:13.pot though. Amazing. Took so long to decide what he's going to do then
:07:14. > :07:40.and missed it. That's the last thing Mark wanted
:07:41. > :07:44.there, was to put the red across to finish nicely on the pink. With the
:07:45. > :07:51.red over the corner pocket, he's got to pot this yellow. A wee bit of a
:07:52. > :08:14.stretch there for Mark. Just looking at the angle he has on
:08:15. > :08:30.this red. Got the angle. He can leave the red
:08:31. > :08:47.over the pocket. He can go into the red, open some up.
:08:48. > :08:55.The white has carried on through. A bit unlucky to go on through and
:08:56. > :08:59.land on that red. He can pot this. But where are the next colours?
:09:00. > :09:08.Might be able to get through on to the pink. May just cannon the blue.
:09:09. > :09:28.Might be tight on the cushion then. Needs the extension because of the
:09:29. > :09:46.red over the pocket. That's about the best he could do.
:09:47. > :09:50.If he could pot the pink, he's got the red over the pocket now. Looks
:09:51. > :09:53.like a natural to cannon the green if he pots the pink. Can't get any
:09:54. > :09:56.action on the cue ball. Pot the pink and let the white take
:09:57. > :10:10.care of itself. APPLAUSE
:10:11. > :10:25.And now a bit of a chance. Just plain ball striking there.
:10:26. > :10:27.Didn't matter that he cannoned the green. A drag shot to hole for the
:10:28. > :10:38.black. He's going to have to play into the
:10:39. > :10:51.reds now. He's got to be a wee bit careful.
:10:52. > :10:57.There's a gap there. If he flicks one, it could end up slightly up the
:10:58. > :11:19.table. Played that well. Very well. The black he potted then, he had to
:11:20. > :11:22.give it a bit of attention. A thin cut in regard to what he was playing
:11:23. > :11:58.for. Last time it was 2-1. Ever since
:11:59. > :12:05.that, it was just a frame each -- last time he led. Bit of a chance
:12:06. > :12:13.now to get himself into into the lead. Long way to go yet.
:12:14. > :12:32.One good shot to get him back up to the high scoring end of the table.
:12:33. > :12:42.Hue good was that? APPLAUSE
:12:43. > :13:11.Could have covered something. He had to play for that red.
:13:12. > :13:21.Could have done with a bit more on that. He's now made things a little
:13:22. > :13:24.awkward for himself. He's looking to see if the pink would go into the
:13:25. > :13:33.middle pocket. It's a natural thing to pot that and then cannon the red
:13:34. > :14:00.in. It does, from that picture, look as though he was just OK there.
:14:01. > :14:05.He could do with that red being next to the pink. He's going to need
:14:06. > :14:42.another red. Even if the pink spots, it will go
:14:43. > :14:49.on to the blue. Good before mance.
:14:50. > :15:18.Terrific performance. The man from County Antrim.
:15:19. > :15:22.APPLAUSE Just can't separate these players at
:15:23. > :15:29.the moment. Both playing well, cueing well.
:15:30. > :15:54.He's certainly up for this, is Mark. I think he's enjoying this match.
:15:55. > :16:04.He's got an angle and if, if he can move the blue, he has the chance of
:16:05. > :16:13.a century. Unlucky. Very unlucky.
:16:14. > :16:18.LAUGHTER He threw everything at that one!
:16:19. > :16:23.He knew it was going to be difficult. What a superb break that
:16:24. > :16:30.was from Mark Allen. He gets himself into the lead for the first time
:16:31. > :16:35.since he led 2-1. 7-6 to Mark Allen. What a great match this is. Into
:16:36. > :16:41.frame 14, Robertson at the table, there is no score.
:16:42. > :16:48.Can't come back up for the blue. Is he going to try to bring the black
:16:49. > :16:56.into play here? Certainly is. What a shot that is!
:16:57. > :17:04.That for me is one of the shots of the Championships. That was superb.
:17:05. > :17:08.He hadn't got the angle to roll back in and get back up for the blue
:17:09. > :17:17.but... What a shot he pulled out there.
:17:18. > :17:23.Tell you what, the way they are sitting now, what an opportunity for
:17:24. > :17:48.the Australian here. A very aggressive shot he took on on
:17:49. > :18:06.that red. He always looks as if he plays
:18:07. > :18:11.better when he's walking around the table quicker and being more
:18:12. > :18:16.aggressive. We also know he's a good safety player and can slow the game
:18:17. > :18:34.up if he needs. Puts you in a more positive mode.
:18:35. > :18:42.Look at the shot he's played here. Skimmed the black. Past the black,
:18:43. > :19:01.skimmed the red. Played the black and he's off to go.
:19:02. > :19:15.He's no strange tore making a maximum break. Made it twice in the
:19:16. > :19:41.competition. Ronnie O'Sullivan and Stephen
:19:42. > :19:46.Hendry. Stephen's had 11 maximums and Ronnie 12.
:19:47. > :19:55.?25,000 for the play they're can achieve that this year and he won't
:19:56. > :19:58.even be thinking about it at present. He'll be thinking about the
:19:59. > :20:03.frame, first of all. Tell you what, he'll have it at the
:20:04. > :20:21.back of his mind now. It's the right site of the table
:20:22. > :20:23.from a left-hander. So things could get pretty tense in a couple of
:20:24. > :21:14.minutes' time. Too near the pink spot. He's put
:21:15. > :21:23.himself out of position here and the frame is far from safe.
:21:24. > :21:38.That's Sa poor positional shot. -- that's a poor positional shot.
:21:39. > :21:43.He's looking at the other end of the table. He looks like he's going to
:21:44. > :22:03.take this red to the middle pocket. That seems a little risky. Such a
:22:04. > :22:09.good Potter, this fella. Terrific shot.
:22:10. > :22:49.Very well controlled. Apart from that last one when he hit the black
:22:50. > :22:51.too hard and didn't get on the red as intended, that was an excellent
:22:52. > :22:59.recovery. He's off to go. Mark's had breaks of 84 and 77 in
:23:00. > :23:16.the last two frames. And the world number one bounces
:23:17. > :23:21.straight back with this. Already on 67.
:23:22. > :23:30.One more red needed. That'll put him 68 in front with 67 remaining on the
:23:31. > :23:42.table. A few more to come here you would feel and maybe the chance of a
:23:43. > :23:48.century. Two more centuries needed to create a bit of history.
:23:49. > :23:52.No player has ever made 100 century breaks in a season.
:23:53. > :24:05.Er might never happen again. That's the frame completely safe
:24:06. > :25:27.now. Needs a good position on the last
:25:28. > :25:33.red. Being a left-hander makes it slightly more difficult.
:25:34. > :25:52.He's going to need the extension on the cue and the rest.
:25:53. > :25:56.Just leaves the white somewhere near the red. Can't do too much with
:25:57. > :26:12.this. APPLAUSE
:26:13. > :26:16.The blue will do. Didn't want to risk the awkward black. This is
:26:17. > :26:35.quite amazing from the Australian. Superb. Robert Robertson is one more
:26:36. > :27:14.century clear to his century of centuries.
:27:15. > :27:26.Well, that's made it a lot more difficult.
:27:27. > :27:33.Oh, beautiful. What a lovely shot that was.
:27:34. > :27:44.The cueing on that last yellow was outstanding. He can't beat his own
:27:45. > :27:46.highest break. He holds the highest break of 140. That yellow was up
:27:47. > :27:55.there with the best. Let's not forget the red that he
:27:56. > :28:05.potted to start this break when he kissed the red away from the black.
:28:06. > :28:07.Absolutely superb. Decided to go out there and play a bit more aggressive
:28:08. > :28:25.and this is his reward. Clearance here at the Crucible.
:28:26. > :28:37.APPLAUSE 137 for Robertson. Once again, they
:28:38. > :28:41.draw at 7-7. Robertson on course to make history. This is the list of
:28:42. > :28:45.century-makers this season. Robertson ever so close to making
:28:46. > :28:50.the 100. Robertson then took the next frame
:28:51. > :28:53.to make it 8-7, we pick it up in the next, Allen to play, trailing by 25
:28:54. > :29:17.points. That was a chance. It wasn't an easy
:29:18. > :29:21.chance, but it was a chance. He sat in the wrong chair there, Mark! He
:29:22. > :29:37.still retained his sense of humour. He can pot this red and come across
:29:38. > :29:42.the other side for the black. But the pink is the easier pot. But he
:29:43. > :29:55.is only 25 in front. He is playing it. He must have heard
:29:56. > :30:02.you in the commentary box, Dennis. He is perfect on the black and he
:30:03. > :30:04.can stun over behind that red. 34 in front when he pots this. He will
:30:05. > :30:17.need that red and one more colour. If he can knock this red and black
:30:18. > :30:23.in, he will be more than pleased, because Mark Allen has been superb.
:30:24. > :30:26.One more red and black and Mark will have lost the session 5-3. But he
:30:27. > :30:41.has played well. Looking forward to this one
:30:42. > :30:50.tomorrow. It's going to be a great third session.
:30:51. > :31:04.He would like to get this red out of the way. Well, he tried to make sure
:31:05. > :31:13.of it and missed it. Barring snookers though, he has won the
:31:14. > :31:18.frame and Neil Robertson will be 9-7 in front. It was enough and Neil
:31:19. > :31:22.Robertson takes a two frame advantage into the third and final
:31:23. > :31:28.session tomorrow. It has been an excellent last 16 match so far.
:31:29. > :31:33.Let's bring you up to date with one of two England versus Wales matches
:31:34. > :31:57.as Judd Trump takes on Ryan Day. That's worked out brilliantly. That
:31:58. > :32:06.is a magnificent century from the Welshman.
:32:07. > :32:20.It is amazing and the good news for Ryan is the blue's come down the
:32:21. > :32:29.table and gone into a perfect pottable position for this red. A
:32:30. > :32:38.fabulous effort from Ryan n Day and that break gets one back again. That
:32:39. > :32:48.is a terrific shot from Judd. How did that stay in the pocket? He got
:32:49. > :32:58.himself back three in front. Well played. Deserved a bit of good
:32:59. > :33:05.fortune and he has got it. A 62-point lead, 67 on the table and
:33:06. > :33:11.how many times has he done that in this match? There is another one. It
:33:12. > :33:24.is now 10-5. Ryan Day can't believe he lost that one. That was fabulous
:33:25. > :33:30.cueing. Shake hands, well played Ryan Day in the final frame. Judd
:33:31. > :33:36.Trump leads 10-6. So it is the Englishman with the upper hand, but
:33:37. > :33:39.in the other Wales versus England match, Dominic Dale is in front
:33:40. > :33:44.against Michael Wasley. He needs just one frame to book a place in
:33:45. > :33:58.the last 16. Here are the other match. 2005 world champion Shaun
:33:59. > :34:03.Murphy taking on Marco Fu. 4-4 after the first session. Fu pulled one
:34:04. > :34:11.back and we pick it up from frame 16 with Murphy on a break of 59. This
:34:12. > :34:24.black and one more red needed. Don't think it's there. He goes back to
:34:25. > :34:28.his seat he has a 52-point lead, but there is 67 remaining. Just looking
:34:29. > :34:45.for that black and one more red. A missed opportunity.
:34:46. > :34:56.He has got quite nice on this black and he can hit it thinner than you
:34:57. > :35:04.would normally to try and cannon those three reds in the middle. He
:35:05. > :35:16.has got them. Well, applause, but it's come very awkward.
:35:17. > :35:22.If he was straight on this red, it wouldn't be a problem. But I think
:35:23. > :35:28.there is a bit of work to do with the cue ball. He is asking the
:35:29. > :35:33.referee for the spider. Will it be the normal spider, or maybe the
:35:34. > :35:38.extended spider. The trouble is the harder he hits it, the wider the cue
:35:39. > :35:51.ball will go and he will be close to the black.
:35:52. > :36:01.He looks very close to that red. Oh, so close. He made light work of it.
:36:02. > :36:04.Very good shot. Very good. He has got a chaps now. -- he has got a
:36:05. > :36:20.chance now. Not much of an angle on this black.
:36:21. > :36:39.But a slight one. Look how close he was to this red.
:36:40. > :36:59.And he played it well considering. This would be a frame to steal. A
:37:00. > :37:08.blow for Shaun Murphy and a real boost for Marco.
:37:09. > :37:15.Doesn't look to have a good angle. He is playing for the red past the
:37:16. > :37:22.pink. Of course, he always had that red in the middle. Shaun will be
:37:23. > :37:30.knowing that brown is far enough off a cushion that it is no real
:37:31. > :37:46.problem. Seeing in your chair, you're hoping your opponent makes a
:37:47. > :37:51.positional mistake. Not ideal on either blue or pink. This could go
:37:52. > :38:15.wrong. That was the danger. A little bit
:38:16. > :38:20.was enough to make this missable. When I saw the angle, I thought
:38:21. > :38:24.there might be a case for just playing a position on the red off
:38:25. > :38:28.one cushion. But they have had a few bounces off the cushion. Maybe he
:38:29. > :38:33.wanted to play it off two. He can pot this but it is tricky.
:38:34. > :38:55.But it's there. We have got a new favourite for this frame now.
:38:56. > :39:03.Well Marco immediately pointing at the cue ball. Feels as though he got
:39:04. > :39:07.a bit of a springer off the side cushion. This was a good red that
:39:08. > :39:10.kept this frame-winning chance going. When he potted the yellow, he
:39:11. > :39:27.felt it sprung off a bit. He needs a nice angle now on the
:39:28. > :39:30.brown. OK, Steve said it is far enough away from the baulk cushion,
:39:31. > :39:45.but doesn't want to finish straight on it.
:39:46. > :39:54.He still needs these four remaining colours. He is digging his way out
:39:55. > :40:05.of trouble here. Fantastic response from Marco Fu
:40:06. > :40:17.this this. This is the really the tonic that
:40:18. > :40:43.Marco Fu needed. Well played. That was a big, big
:40:44. > :40:47.frame. Shaun Murphy, OK, gave him the chance, but he had to take it
:40:48. > :40:56.and he was solid there. And he reduces arrears now to two. Shaun
:40:57. > :41:08.Murphy leads 8-6. This a way back for Marco Fu? In the next frame,
:41:09. > :41:17.Murphy to play, trailing by eight. So a chance for Shaun that Marco has
:41:18. > :41:24.left him here. Should he have played safe there?
:41:25. > :41:29.This black will put the points all square. He wasn't happy with the
:41:30. > :41:33.contact there, he was up immediately. Thought he got a heavy
:41:34. > :41:45.contact which took the pace out of the cue ball. Just a bit of a
:41:46. > :41:50.bounce. Didn't sound massively like a kick. But you have to trust Shaun
:41:51. > :41:57.Murphy's judgment of the proceedings there. Because he was up very
:41:58. > :42:07.quickly. Obviously playing for the red on the side cushion.
:42:08. > :42:23.Another heavy contact. Didn't destroy the potting angle.
:42:24. > :42:33.That pink now puts him seven points in front. Four of these remaining
:42:34. > :42:43.reds would see him get to the snookers required stage.
:42:44. > :42:50.I don't think the lower of the two reds below the pink is pottable, but
:42:51. > :43:02.it might be if you get in the right position.
:43:03. > :43:11.I don't think he can stun for the red on the other cushion either. He
:43:12. > :43:16.did that nicely. There wasn't much room for manoeuvre there. That is
:43:17. > :43:22.the advantage of having that lovely cue action. He gets so much reaction
:43:23. > :43:29.off the cue ball without any real effort. So he can play a delicate
:43:30. > :43:36.shot like that. But he has come a bit awkward on this. I don't think
:43:37. > :43:41.either of those two reds are pottable below the pink.
:43:42. > :43:56.That is not it by a long way. He will be disappointed with that
:43:57. > :44:00.effort. If he thought there was a problem coming around off two
:44:01. > :44:28.cushion, why not stun it in and force the cue ball out? Mystifying.
:44:29. > :44:37.Well it was a chance to win the frame at that visit. But he has put
:44:38. > :44:38.his disappointment behind him and played the right shot. Put the brown
:44:39. > :44:57.in a safe position. Too thick, is this red going over
:44:58. > :45:00.the middle? It is pottable. It is not as easy as it looks, but it is
:45:01. > :45:10.definitely on. Once again he has lined up the
:45:11. > :45:30.possibility of getting on the pink to disturb those two reds.
:45:31. > :45:39.He is going to need the three remaining reds. Now, December it
:45:40. > :45:43.pratly -- desperately needs an angle on the black. He has got it. He has
:45:44. > :45:49.landed inch perfect. The one thing you don't want to do when you kiss
:45:50. > :45:57.that red, don't catch it full. He caught it full. Now, has he got a
:45:58. > :46:00.red to the right middle? If you catch it half ball either side, both
:46:01. > :46:13.reds would have been on. Can he see enough of this red? He
:46:14. > :46:20.could and that now should be the frame-clincher. This black and the
:46:21. > :46:35.final red to go to the snookers required stage.
:46:36. > :47:07.Marp Coe won't be winning this one by look of it. -- Marco.
:47:08. > :47:12.That yellow going in means Marco will not come to the table and try
:47:13. > :47:19.for those snookers. We have got one more frame to
:47:20. > :47:39.complete this second session. Marco Fu has done well to come back,
:47:40. > :47:48.but Shaun Murphy is now three frames ahead. 9-6. One more to play. But
:47:49. > :47:55.credit to Marco Fu, he bounced back in fine style in the last frame with
:47:56. > :48:02.a break of 136 and just two frames behind Shaun Murphy. They resume
:48:03. > :48:07.tomorrow at 7 o'clock. Excellent break from Marco Fu. Still very much
:48:08. > :48:15.in this, against the 2005 world champion. That is it for now. In you
:48:16. > :48:22.want more snooker, Snooker Extra follows. We are back at 1 o'clock on
:48:23. > :48:25.BBC do Two with further live coverage. From all of us here, good
:48:26. > :48:29.night.